Advertising, B.A.
Program Overview
BYU’s Advertising emphasis prepares students for careers in top agencies worldwide through hands-on experience in the award-winning, student-led AdLab. With access to industry mentors, world-renowned client projects, and cutting-edge technology, students develop creative expertise and strategic thinking, graduating ready to excel in the competitive advertising world.
How to apply
Create Big Ideas, Launch Bold Careers
The Advertising emphasis at BYU’s School of Communications offers a world-class undergraduate experience through its student-run agency, the AdLab. Students collaborate with global brands and top agencies like Nike, Gatorade, and Airbnb, gaining real-world experience under professional mentorship.
The AdLab’s award-winning projects and state-of-the-art resources provide students with opportunities to innovate and excel in advertising. With an emphasis on creativity, strategic thinking, and a curriculum integrated with hands-on work, graduates leave prepared to lead in the advertising industry, joining alumni at some of the world’s top agencies.
The AdLab’s award-winning projects and state-of-the-art resources provide students with opportunities to innovate and excel in advertising. With an emphasis on creativity, strategic thinking, and a curriculum integrated with hands-on work, graduates leave prepared to lead in the advertising industry, joining alumni at some of the world’s top agencies.
TOP 7%
"Best Colleges for Communications in America" -Niche
85%
School of Communications graduates employed full-time within 1 year of graduation
#20
"2024 Best Colleges in America" -WSJ
WELCOME TO THE ADLAB
Students in the AdLab collaborate with global brands like Nike, Gatorade, and Airbnb, gaining real-world experience through client projects, professional mentorship, and cutting-edge tools. They participate in award-winning campaigns, compete in national advertising competitions, and develop skills that prepare them to excel in top agencies worldwide.
Student Outcomes
Graduates of BYU’s Advertising program are highly sought after, with alumni working at top agencies like Wieden+Kennedy, Droga5, and Ogilvy, and on campaigns for global brands such as Nike, Gatorade, and Airbnb. Known for their creativity, strategic thinking, and hands-on experience in the award-winning AdLab, BYU graduates are ready to excel in the competitive advertising industry, with many securing positions at leading firms before graduation and contributing to impactful, award-winning campaigns worldwide.
Career Services
Alumni & Student Stories
Interested in seeing what our students and graduates have been up to? Take a scroll…
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Public Relations Alum Colin Wylie on Sharing the Giving Machine With Columbus, Ohio
With the Help of a Miniature LEGO Replica, Colin Wylie Helps Spread the Word About a New Giving Machine
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Photo Essay: A Look Into Alum Emma Benson's Life as a Journalist
With Features About First Responders, Organ Donors and More, Emma Benson is Using Her Storytelling Skills for Good
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Deseret News VP Emily Hellewell on Problem Solving and Variety in the Field of Communications
BYU Public Relations Alum Emily Hellewell Shares Her Experience in the Communications Industry
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Make Something Wonderful: Homecoming Alumni Speaker Brent Anderson on the Craft of Creativity
In His 2024 Homecoming Alumni Lecture, School of Communications Alum Brent Anderson Shared Insights About Creativity from his Career Experience Working with Apple
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Advertising Alum Brent Anderson on “Harnessing the Unpredictability and Magic of Creativity”
Brent Anderson, an Honored Alumni Speaker for Homecoming Week, Shared More About His Creative Roots
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First Latin American Forum on Journalism and Religion Held at BYU
Journalists From Latin America Join BYU’s School of Communications in a Conversation About Religious Reporting
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Like Father, Like Son: Art Rascon Steps Down as Son Jacob Rascon Steps Up to Fill His Position As News Anchor
Jacob Rascon takes the place of his father Art Rascon after 36 years in the journalism business, looking forward to filling the shoes his father wore so well
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Alumni Profile: Jenny Anderson
Jenny Anderson Advertising, 2018 Senior Account Manager, VMLY&R, New York City
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Alumni Profile: Jerry Miller
Jerry Miller Broadcast Journalism, 1978 Voice of Idaho State Bengals for 39 years
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Notes from the Editor: Journalism & the Church
Meet the editor in chief of the Church News and learn about her vigor for the field of journalism
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Extra! Extra! Read All About the New DU Magazine
65 years after its editorial debut, the Daily Universe is entering a new phase
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TWO COLLEGE ANCHORS FIND THEIR WAY TO THE SAME ANCHOR DESK 12 YEARS LATER
From college to KUTV 2News, these two journalists have come up together through their careers of broadcast journalism
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STUDENT RESOURCES
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Academic Advising
Receive help with class registration, academic planning, and more.
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Bridge Semester
Make sure you're on track to enter the Journalism & Sports Media program.
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Professionalism Policy
Discover how the School of Communications prepares you for the workplace.
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Courses
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year
Electives
1st Semester
All students, regardless of intended concentration, must take and pass (with a grade of B or higher) the following prerequisites:
WRTG 150 (3.0 credits)
COMMS 101 (3.0 credits)
Religion Cornerstone course (2.0 credits)
General Education courses and/or general electives (5.0 credits)
UNIV 101 (2.0 credits)
Total Hours 15.0 credits
2nd Semester
A HTG 100 (3.0 credits)
COMMS 230 (3.0 credits)
Religion Cornerstone course (2.0 credits)
General Education courses and/or general electives (7.0 credits)
Total Hours 15.0 credits
3rd Semester
COMMS 300 (3.0 credits)
COMMS 304 (3.0 credits)
Religion Cornerstone course (2.0 credits)
General Education courses and/or general electives (7.0 credits)
Total Hours 15.0 credits
Apply to the major in September or January, after taking the prerequisites and passing them with a "B" or better.
4th Semester
COMMS elective (3.0 credits)
Religion elective (2.0 credits)
General Education courses and/or general electives (4.0 credits)
MKTG 201 (3.0 credits)
Total Hours 12.0 credits
First Spring Term After Admittance to Program
COMMS 309* (3.0 credits)
COMMS elective (3.0 credits)
Total Hours 6.0 credits
*COMMS 309 MUST be taken in the first Spring Term after you are admitted or your program will be delayed 1 year.
5th Semester
COMMS 317 or COMMS 330* (3.0 credits)
Religion Cornerstone course (2.0 credits)
Total Hours 15.0
*If you are applying to the Creative Track, take COMMS 330. If you do not get accepted into the Creative Track, you are automatically in the Strategy Track and you must take COMMS 337 in your next semester with the required strategy class of COMMS 372 later.
6th Semester
COMMS 331 or COMMS 337* (3.0 credits)
COMMS elective (3.0 credits)
Religion elective (2.0 credits)
General Education courses and/or general electives (4.0 credits)
COMMS 371R**
Total Hours 15.0
Spring/Summer
COMMS 496R or equivalent (3.0 credits)
Total Hours 3.0
*Creative Track students will take COMMS 331 Winter semester. Strategy Track students will take COMMS 337 Winter semester.
**COMMS 371R must be taken once before graduation and various sections will be offered from this semester on.
***Strategy Track students who have had COMMS 309, COMMS 317, and COMMS 337 are encouraged to do an internship during Spring/Summer terms.
7th Semester
COMMS 372 or COMMS 433* (3.0 credits)
COMMS elective (3.0 credits)
Religion elective (2.0 credits)
General Education courses and/or general electives (4.0 credits)
COMMS 371R** (3.0 credits)
Total Credits 15.0
*Strategy Track students will take COMMS 372 and Creative Track students will take COMMS 433 in the Fall Semester.
**COMMS 371R must be taken once before graduation and various sections will be offered.
8th Semester
COMMS 489 (3.0 credits)
General Education courses and/or general electives (6.0 credits)
COMMS 371R* (3.0 credits)
Total Credits 12.0
*COMMS 371R must be taken once before graduation and various sections will be offered.
Spring/Summer
COMMS 496R or mentored experience (3.0 credits)
Total Credits 3.0
COMMS 301 - Media History and Culture (3.0 credits)
COMMS 302 - Popular Culture and Media (3.0 credits)
COMMS 351 - Media Technology and Audiences (3.0 credits)
COMMS 411 - Media Effects and Health (3.0 credits)
COMMS 416 - Civic Communication and Public Advocacy (3.0 credits)
COMMS 481 - Family, Gender, and Media (3.0 credits)
COMMS 482 - Religion, Media, and Society (3.0 credits)
COMMS 302 - Popular Culture and Media (3.0 credits)
COMMS 351 - Media Technology and Audiences (3.0 credits)
COMMS 411 - Media Effects and Health (3.0 credits)
COMMS 416 - Civic Communication and Public Advocacy (3.0 credits)
COMMS 481 - Family, Gender, and Media (3.0 credits)
COMMS 482 - Religion, Media, and Society (3.0 credits)
ADVERTISING FACULTY
Mark Callister
Professor: Associate Dean in the College of Fine Arts and Communications
Advertising: consumer behavior; persuasion; research methods
188 WCO
801-422-6143
mark_callister@byu.edu
Advertising: consumer behavior; persuasion; research methods
188 WCO
801-422-6143
mark_callister@byu.edu
Chris Cutri
Associate Professor : Creative concepting for advertising; Television commercial production; Visual literacy
312 BRMB
801-422-1358
chris_cutri@byu.edu
312 BRMB
801-422-1358
chris_cutri@byu.edu
Jeff Sheets
Teaching Professor : Associate Director - Inspiring Learning
Advertising
331 BRMB
801-422-3524
jeff_sheets@byu.edu
Advertising
331 BRMB
801-422-3524
jeff_sheets@byu.edu
